Cam controlled rotary printing machine



March 8, 1966 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,233,863

I CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet l March 8, 1966 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,238,358

CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1964 March 8, 1966 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,233,363

CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 "Mars w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,238,868

CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1964 March 1966 10 Sheets-Sheet 4.

March 1966 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,238,863

CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 1966 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,238,363

CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 8, 1966 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,238,368

CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jnveniors March 1956 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,233,363

CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fig. 8

Jnvenfors ,2 1

March 8, 966 w. RHTZERFELD ETAL 3,238,863

CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 March 8, 1966 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,233,868

CAM CONTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 1 m 21.90 m ml I I I I I Jib United States Patent 0 3,238,868 CAM CQNTROLLED ROTARY PRINTING MAQHINE Wilhelm Ritzerfeld, Shorlemer Allee 14, Berlin-Dahlem 33, Germany, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Franzensbader fitrasse Z1, Berlin-Grunewald 33, Germany Filed Mar. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 351,668 Claims priority, application Germany, Mar. 22, 1963, R 34,763; May 22, 1963, R 35,242 18 Qiaims. (Cl. fill-91) The present invention relates to a cam controlled printing machine, and more particularly to a duplicating machine for printing selected sections of a printing form under the control of cams. Printing machines, and more particularly duplicating machines, are known in which a counter pressure roller is moved to and from a printing position cooperating with a printing roller for the purpose of printing selected sections of a printing form in adjacent positions on a copy sheet. The movement of the counter pressure roller is advantageously derived from rotary cams which have cam track portions respectively associated with sections of the printing form. A plurality of cams are respectively associated with sections of a head portion of the printing form, and with sections or lines of the next portion of the printing form, and the cams are rendered operative by shifting the same to and from an operative position cooperating with a suitable cam follower means by which the counter pressure roller is controlled to move to and from the printing position.

A printing machine of this type is disclosed in our U.S. Patent 2,868,116 issued January 13, 1959.

The axial shifting of the cams by manual operation requires an engagement and disengagement of arresting means by which the cams are held in operative and inoperative positions, and the application of manual force which is very tiring for the operator, and moreover, a substantial time is required for carrying out the selection of the cams, particularly in relation to the short printing operation, so that the output of the machines in a given time is not very high. Furthermore, the shifting of the cam means before each printing operation interrupts the flow of work, and prevents the operator from concentrating on the accurate printing of copy sheets.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages of manually set cam controlled selective printing machines, and to provide a printing machine with electromagnetic means for shifting cams to operative positions controlling the movement of the printing roller and counter pressure roller to and from the printing position.

Printing machines are known in which the counter pressure roller is directly operated by electromagnetic means. This construction requires electromagnetic means delivering a substantial force for producing the necessary printing pressure. Cam controlled printing machines have the advantage that the printing pressure is derived from the cooperation of mechanical elements so that the operation is extremely reliable and the uniform printing pressure is assured.

Consequently, it is another object of the invention to move the printing roller and counter pressure roller to and from a printing position by a cam follower controlled by mechanical cams, and to provide electromagnetic means for shifting the cams to and from operative positions cooperating with the cam follower means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of electromagentic means for shifting different cams to operative positions.

Another object of the present invention is to energize and tie-energize electromagnetic means in accordance Patented Mar. 8, 1966 'ice with a program recorded on copy sheets so that the cams are shifted in accordance with such program.

Another object of the invention is to control the electromagnetic means by light-reflecting markings provided at selected places of the copy sheets so that the cams are set to the proper position when a new copy sheet is fed to the machine.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a printing machine, and more particularly to a duplicating machine which comprises a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on the printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to the printing line; operating means for operating the roller means to assume the printing position; cam follower means for actuating said operating means; a carrier connected to the printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including at least one cam, and preferably a plurality of interconnected cams, mounted on the carrier for rotation therewith, and also for movement in axial direction between an inoperative position, and an operative position cooperating with the cam follower means; electromagnetic means for moving the movable cam, or cams between the inoperative and operative positions; and means for actuating the electromagnetic means, such as manually operated switches or program controlled relay contacts.

Each movable cam has at least one cam track portion correlated with one of the printing sections, and due to the synchronous rotation of the cam means and the printing roller means, the counter pressure roller is moved to the printing position at the moment in which the respective section of the printing form passes the printing line.

In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of electromagnetic means operate a shifting means by which the movable cams are stepwise shifted so that the cams suc cessively assume a position cooperating with the cam follower means. The several electromagnetic means may have armatures performing the same stroke and being connected to a shifting means which is differently displaced when one or several electromagnetic means are simultaneously actuated, or the armatures may be movable through different distances and displace the shifting means and thereby the cams through corresponding different distances to associate the cam track portions of several cams with the cam follower means.

The connected cams may be shifted one step when one electromagnetic means is actuated two steps when two electromagnetic means are actuated, and three steps when three electromagnetic means are actuated.

The cams may be shifted by a forked lever engaged at spaced points by several electromagentic means having armatures moving the same distance.

In another embodiment of the invention, the electromagnetic means are connected to a turnable disc which is turned through different angular distances in accordance with the number of energized electromagneti-cmeans. The disc is connected to a shifting lever by which the cams are shifted between the inoperative and operative positions.

The electromagnetic means of the above described embodiments are advantageously connected to selector switches which are operated by the operator before each printing operation to set the cams in accordance with the desired selection of printing sections to be printed.

in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, each copy sheet is provided with a marking, preferably a light reflecting marking, and is sensed by a beam of light emitted from a source of light and reflected by a marking into a photocell which produces a current controlling a corresponding electromagnetic means. In this manner, markings can be provided at selected places of the copy sheets for causing actuation of one or several selected electromagnetic means, and corresponding of printing of selected sections of the printing form on the respective copy sheet.

The copy sheets are advantageously provided with clearing markings which are sensed by a photocell which controls a clearing relay or electromagnet by which a switch connected in series with all other electromagnetic means is actuated so that at the beginning of the operation, when a new copy sheet is inserted, all electromagnetic means are deenergized permitting the control cam means to assume an inoperative position under the action of a suitable spring.

The photocells are arranged in the region of the feeding means, and the markings are provided in the region of the front edge of the copy sheets, so that the cams are set in accordance with the program represented by the markings as soon as the operator supplies a new copy sheet to the feeding means, which may be a pair of feeding rollers.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a rotary printing machine according to one embodiment of the invention, partially shown in section, and with one lateral wall omitted;

FIG. 2 is partly a developed view, and partly a sectional view taken on line IIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of a modified embodiment, partially shown in section on line IIIIII in FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV--IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view, partially in section, illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view, partially in section, with one side wall omitted, illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is partially a developed view, and partially a sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a detail of FIG. 7 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric circuit of the embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 includes three plan views illustrating differently marked copy sheets used in the embodiment of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a printing roller 1 is mounted on a shaft 2 in a frame including side walls 3 and 4, and is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a motor, not shown.

A printing form or master sheet 5 is secured to the peripheral surface of the printing roller 1 by a holding means 6 clamping one edge of the printing form. A counter pressure roller 8 cooperates with the printing roller and adapted to engage the printing form 5 when the same passes through a plane AB, or more particularly through a printing line located in this plane and defined by the peripheral surfaces of the printing roller and counter pressure roller.

Counter pressure roller 8 is shifted between an inoperative position and a printing position by operating means which include intermediate levers 26 articulated to gg e lever means 27, 28, 29 and 30. Intermediate levers 26 are mounted on a shaft 22 to which a pair of cam follower means 21 and 22 are secured, cam follower means 21 including a cam follower roller 25, and cam follower means 20 including a cam follower roller 24, as best seen in FIG. 2. Cam follower means 20 and 21 are controlled by corresponding groups of cams which are mounted on a stationary shaft 9. Each of the cams has cam track portions which respectively correspond to circumferentially disposed sections of printing form 5, for example to one or several lines of a heading and to one or several lines of the text of the printing form. FIG. 2 shows a cam 10 whose cam portion corresponds to the heading of the printing form which is usually printed on every copy sheet, and therefore cam 10 is connected by a flange 12 and a screw to shaft 9 so that cam 10 cannot be moved in axial direction, but always cooperates with the roller 24 of cam follower 20. Shaft 9 is connected to shaft 2 of printing roller 1 by a gear train composed of gears 16, 17 and 18, gear 18 being secured to shaft 9.

The projecting cam track portion of cam 10 is so positioned on shaft 9 that it passes cam follower roller 24 when the correlated heading of the printing form passes through the printing line, and since cam follower means 20, 24 moves the counter pressure roller 8 through operating means 26 to 30, the heading is printed on a copy sheet when the same is supplied to the printing line. It is frequently required that a longer heading is printed, and for this purpose, two extension cams 11a and 11b having carn track portions of different circumferential length are provided. Cams 11a and 11b are connected by a bolt 14 with each other and with a cam 13 which has an effective cam track portion sutlicient to print the entire text of the printing form. Cams 11a, 11b and 13 are connected to each other and to a hub member 14a by a bolt 14, and the entire cam block including hub member 14a is shiftable in axial direction along shaft 9 in direction of the arrow C from the position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 1 to the position illustrated in dash and dot lines. A suitable key and key groove are provided to prevent rotation of the cam block 11a, 11b, 13. It will be seen that in the position illustrated in solid lines, none of the cams 11a, 11b and 13 is operative to engage the cam follower roller 24 while stepwise shifting of the cams in the direction of the arrow C will first render cam 11a, then cam 11b, and finally cam 13 operative. As best seen in FIG. 1, operative cams 11a and 11b extend the circumferential length of the effective cam por tion of the heading cam 10.

A corresponding cam means is provided for actuating cam follower means 21 with cam follower roller 25. Cams 15a, 15b and have effective cam portions respectively associated with different lines or sections of the text of the printing form and are connected by a bolt to each other and to a hub member which is mounted on a sleeve 37a for turning movement with the same,

but axially shiftable thereon so that cams 15a, 15b, 150 can be shifted in the direction of the arrow D from the illustrated inoperative position to the position illustrated in dash and dot lines, with cams 15a, 15b, and 15c successlvely moving to operative position cooperating with cam follower roller 25. Sleeve 37a is part of a stepping mechanism and ratchet device 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 which permits member 37 to turn one step under the action of a spiral spring 35 whenever control members 42a, 42b, 42c are selectively shifted to an operative in-- wardly displaced position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, in which position the pawl 37 of the stepping mecha-- nrsm is engaged to release the ratchet wheel 39 to permit the same to turn one step until engaged by a locking pawl 36, and again arrested. Turning movement of member 37a through one step will cause displacement of cams 15a, 15b and 15c, and since such displacement takes place after each revolution of the print ng roller and of shaft 9, in accordance with the position of control members 42a, 42b, 42c, different sec-.

a corresponding angular tions of the text of the printing form will be printed when one or several cams a, 15b, 15c operate the cam follower means 21 and cause movement of counter pressure roller 8 to the printing position. In other words, which lines or sections are printed on successive copy sheets is determined by the stepping mechanism, while the number of printed lines is determined by axially shifting cams 15a, 15b, 150. This arrangement is known, and described in great detail in the US. Patent 2,868,116.

In accordance with the present invention, the axial shifting of cam group 11a, 11b, 13, or cam group 15a, 15b, 15c, is accomplished by electromagnetic means. Three electromagnetic means 43, 44, are associated with cams 11a, 11b, 13, and three electromagnetic means 46, 47, 43 are associated with cams 15a, 15b, 15c. Shifting means connect the electromagnetic means with the groups of cams. Cams 43, 44, 45, cooperate with a shifting bar 58, and electromagnetic means 46, 47, 48 cooperate with a shifting bar 70. Bar 58 is articulated to a lever 60 which is turnable about a pivot 59 mounted on a wall of the frame of the machine, and connected by a pivot 61 to a link 62 which is connected by a pivot 63 to a lever arm on a sleeve 64 mounted on a stationary shaft for turning movement, but non-movable in axial direction. Sleeve 64 has a helical slot 65 engaged by a slide pin 67 secured to the hub of a connecting member 66 which has a forked end provided with slide pins, not shown, engaging an annular circumferential groove in a flange portion of hub member 14a. The electromagnetic means 43, 44 and 45 have armatures 56, 57, and 45 which are constructed to move different distances when the respective electromagnetic means are energized. A manually operated switch 49, 50, 51 is located in a circuit of each electromagnetic means and by selectively operating the switches, any electromagnetic means can be energized so that its armature shifts the shifting bar 58 through a corresponding distance whereby sleeve 64 is turned a corresponding angle causing a displacement of slide pin 67 by the helical slot 65 through different axial distances whereby the cam block 11a, 11b, 13 is shifted corresponding axial distances for selectively associating the cams 11a, 11b, 13 with the cam follower roller 24.

The electromagnetic means 46, 47, 48 are energized by operation of corresponding switches, not shown, and have armatures acting on shifting bar 70 which operates a corresponding lever 60 mounted on a pivot 71 and connected by a pin 73 to a link 74 which is pivotally connected by pin 75 to an arm of sleeve 76 whose slot '77 displaces slide pin 79 of the connecting member 78 so that the cam group 15a, 15b, 15c is axially shifted corresponding distances to operative position in which cams 15a, 15b, 15c cooperate with cam follower roller 25 to cause movement of counter pressure roller 8 to and from the printing position. A spring 55 acts on shifting bar 58, and a corresponding spring 69 acts on shifting bar 70 to urge the entire system to a position in which the cams are inoperative until the force of the springs is overcome by the respective energized electromagnetic means.

In order to effect the printing of selected sections of a printing form, and assuming that two additional lines are to be added to the heading, the operator actuates selector switch 50, or both switches 49, 50 whereby cams 11a and 1111 are axially shifted to a position which the cam portions thereof cooperate with the cam follower roller 24. Three lines may be selected from the text portion by operation of the switches by which electromagnetic means 46, 47, 48 are energized, and which causes shifting of the entire cam group 15a, 15b, 150 to a position cooperating with cam follower roller 25.

The printing roller 11 is started to perform a single revolution so that first the heading is printed under control of cam 10, then additional lines are added to the heading under the control of the cam portions of cams 11a, 11b, whereupon three selected lines of the text are printed under control of cams 15a, 15b and 150, the respective cam follower means 2t) and 21 actuating the operating means 26 to 30 by which the counted pressure roller is shifted to the printing position whenever a cam follower means is displaced by a selected cam. After the printing of selected sections of the printing form, for example the complete heading under the control of the cams 10, 11a and 1111, spring 68 moves counter pressure roller 8 to its retracted inoperative position, but as soon as the effective cam portions of cams 15a, 15b, 15c engage the corresponding cam follower means 21, 25, the counter pressure roller 8 is again moved to the printing position.

Copy sheets 31 are supplied by the operator to a pair of transporting rollers 33, 34 so that the copy sheet is fed to the printing line while being moistened by moistening means 32. While counter pressure roller is retracted by spring 68, and undesired sections of the printing form pass through the printing line, a springy holding means 32a holds the copy sheet until counter pressure roller 8 moves again to the printing position in which the cooperating and counter pressure rollers transport the copy sheet while a selected section of the printing form is being printed on the copy sheet.

When the selector switches 49 and 5t? opened, the electromagnetic means 43 and 44 are de-energized, so that spring 55 returns shifting bar 5% to its initial position. The operation under the control of cams 15a, 15b, 150 takes place in the same manner, but if one or several of the control members 42a, 42b, 42c are shifted to an operative position, the stepping mechanism is actuated after each revolution of the printing drum so that different sections or lines of the text of the printing form are printed on copy sheets supplied to the rollers after each revolution of the printing roller, while the same heading is printed on successive copy sheets.

When the entire text is to be printed, electromagnetic means 45 is energized, and cam 13 becomes operative so that during the entire passage of the printing form through the printing line, cam follower Ztl, 24 is actuated to hold counter pressure roller 8 in its printing position until a portion of the periphery of the printing roller not covered by the printing form passes through the printing line.

In accordance with a modified embodiment, not shown, the shifting bars 58 or "70 are constructed as rack bars cooperating with pawls controlled by armatures movable through the same distance, when the respective electromagnetic means is actuated. Consequently, energization of one electromagnetic means will shift the rack bar one step, energization of two electromagnetic means will shift the rack bar two steps, etc., and in this manner, each of the cams Illa, 11b, 13 can be rendered operative.

Referring now to the modified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the entire machine as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 remains unchanged, with the exception of the construction of the shifting means by which the electromagnetic means are connected with the groups of cams. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a forked lever 80 has two slide pins fill, 82 project ing into an annular groove on a flange portion of member 14a, but lever 80 is secured to a shaft 8? which is mounted in corresponding bearings on the frame wall of the machine so that pivotal movement of lever 8t will cause the axial shifting of cams 11a, 11b, 13. A disc 84 is fixedly secured to the lower end of shaft 33 and turns with the same and with lever 8t). Three electromagnetic means 88, 89, 9% are provided for stepwise turning disc 84 and lever 8h. The armatures 91, 94 and W) of the electromagnetic means are connected to links 85, 86, 87, the ends of which are articulated at circumferentially spaced points to disc 84. The armatures are located on a line passing through the center of shaft 83, while the links normally define a obtuse angle with the diameters. When any one of the electromagnetic means is energized, the respective link is aligned with the respective armature, and the disc turned at a certain angle. The arrangement is such that if any one of the electromagnetic means is energized, the link and armature of each of the other two of the electromagnetic means are in angular positions.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 4, the three cams 11a, 11b and 14 are in the inoperative position shown in FIG. 2 and do not engage the cam follower roller 24. When a switch, not shown, and corresponding to one of switches 49, and 51, and connected into the circuit of electromagnetic means 88, for example as in FIG. 1, is actuated, armature 91 is attracted, link 85 aligned therewith, and disc 84 turned a small angle so that shaft 83 and lever are turned the same angle resulting in shifting of hub member 14a with cams 11a, 11b, 13 a distance sufiicient to place cam 11a in the region of the cam follower roller 24. Turning of disc 84 in the direction of the arrow E has reduced the initial angle between link 86 and armature 94 so that the same define now the same angle as shown for armature 91 and link in the initial position illustrated in FIG. 4. If it is desired to print an additional line following the heading, and cam 11b is to be rendered operative, a corresponding switch is actuated, electromagnetic means 89 is energized, and link 86 aligned with armature 94 so that disc 84 and lever 80 are turned the same angular step as before, resulting in shifting of cams 11a, 11b, 13 to a position in which both cams 11a and 11b cooperate with cam follower roller 24 in addition to the heading cam 10.

By energization of electromagnetic means 90, cam 13 is rendered operative so that the entire text on the printing form is printed. When all electromagnetic means 88, 89, 90 are de-energized, spring 85 acting on a lever 96 secured to forked lever 80, pulls disc 84 to its initial position so that the links 85, 94 and 87 are returned to the initial angular positions, defining different angles with the corresponding armatures. In this manner, successive energization of three electromagnetic means whose armatures move the same distance, results in stepwise shifting of the cams.

An apparatus corresponding to the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is provided for shifting cams 15a, 15b, 150 for the purpose of selecting lines or sections of the text portion of the printing form for printing on the copy sheet.

Lever member 96 has a slot 98 into which a feeler finger 99 of an indicator projects. Angular displacement of lever 96 by the electromagnetic means against the action of spring and away from the stop 97, will cause turning movement of feeler finger 99 so that a pointer 100 is turned, and indicates on the dial on a fixed bracket the cam or cams which are in operative positions.

It is also possible to connect disc 84 to electromagnetic means which have a turnable armature so that disc 84 and lever 80 may be turned through the angles necessary for rendering the respective cams operative.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another modification of the electromagnetic shifting arrangement which may be used in connection with the machine shown in FIGS, 1 and 2. Printing roller 1 cooperates with counter pressure roller 8, as explained, and a copy sheet is fed at the level of the transporting or feeding roller 34 to the printing line formed between the printing form 5 and the counter pressure roller 8. Shaft 9 is connected by gear train 16, 17, 18 to the printing roller and rotates in synchronism with the same. Cams as best illustrated in FIG. 2 are mounted on shaft 9, and more particularly on hub member 14a which has a flange with an annular groove into which slide pins 81 and 82 of a forked lever 108 project. Lever 108 is secured to a shaft 109 which is mounted for turning movement on brackets secured to the wall of the frame. An arm 107 is secured to lever 108 and constitutes an extension of the same. Electromagnetic means 101, 102, and 103 have armatures connected to points of lever 107 8 which are spaced different distances from the turning axis of shaft 109. A spring 105 urges lever 107 with lever 108 to the initial position of rest, but when any one of the switches 104 is closed, the respective electromagnetic means is energized, and the corresponding armature is attracted whereby lever 107, 108 is turned and hub member 14a is displaced together with cams 11a, 11b and 13. Assuming that electromagnetic means 101 is energized by switch 104, levers 107, 108 will turn a smaller angle than when electromagnetic means 102 is energized, since the armatures 106 and 110 move through the same distance, but act on different lever arms. Consequently, electromagnetic means 101 will render cam 11a operative by shifting all three cams 11a, 11b, 13 a small step until cam 11a is located in the region of cam follower roller 24. Cam 11b is shifted to the operative position by energization of electromagnetic means 102, and cam 13 is rendered operative by energization of electromagnetic means 103. When the circuit is interrupted by opening of the manually operated switch 104, spring 105 retracts levers 107, 108 with cams 11a, 11b, 13 until all cams are again inoperative and spaced from the cam follower roller 24. If electromagnetic means 110 is deenergized, but electromagnetic means 101 remains energized, spring 105 turns 108 to a position abutting a projecting portion of armature 106 so that cam 11a remains in operative position. The arrangement may be reversed by providing a spring urging the cams to the operative positions, and using the armatures of the electromagnetic means as stops to prevent movement of the cams beyond a certain position. In the above described embodiments of the invention, manually operated switches are provided in the circuit of each electromagnetic means by which the cams associated with the heading and the cams associated with the lines are shifted.

However, if the selector switches are not manually actuated, but the contacts of a relay are used for this pur' pose, it is possible to control the relays in accordance with a program sensed by a suitable sensing means which control the relays.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 11, the copy sheets are used as program carriers, and provided with markings sensed by a beam of light to which a photocell responds.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the same machine as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and therefore corresponding parts are illustrated by corresponding reference numerals. It will be seen that three electromagnetic means 43, 44, 45 are provided which through a shifting mechanism described in detail with reference to FIGS, 1 and 2, shift the cam block 11a, 11b, 13, while three electromagnetic means 46, 47, 48, not shown in FIG. 8 but shown in FIG. 2, operate through a corresponding shifting arrangement the cam block 15a, 15b, 150. Since the two shifting arrangements are identical, only the shifting arrangement for shifting cams 11a, 11b and 13 will be described in detail.

The printing form 5 has a plurality of circumferentially disposed heading sections and text sections which respectively pass through the printing line between the printing roller 1 and the counter pressure roller 8 when a corresponding cam portion on one of the cams 11a, 11b, 15a, 15b, 150 is engaged by the corresponding cam follower roller.

Copy sheets 31a are supplied to a pair of transporting rollers 33 and 34 which transport the copy sheet to the printing line between the printing roller 1 and counter pressure roller 8. In the region of the moistening means 32 between the same and feeding roller 33, sensing means are disposed which sense the leading edge of a copy sheet 31 supplied by the operator to the feeding means 33, 34. FIG. 9 shows on a larger scale that the sensing means 120 include a source of light directing a beam of light onto the copy sheet, and a photocell which receives the beam of light if the same is reflected from the surface of the copy sheet 3101. As shown in FIGS. 10

and 11, the copy sheet is provided with markings which may be printed on the copy sheet, or applied by a typewriter, a special pencil, or even a regular pencil. FIG. 11 shows three copy sheets 31a, 31b and 31c provided with markings in different places. A clearing marking 124 is always provided at the same place on every copy sheet, namely directly adjacent the leading edge of the same. The position of marking 123 represents the section of the printing form by which the heading is extended, and which is printed when cam 11a is rendered operative. The marking 125 on copy sheet 3112 is in a position representing an additional line or section of the heading, which is printed when cam 11b is also operative and located in the region of cam follower roller 24. Marking 126 on copy sheet 310 is associated with the cam 13 by which the entire text is printed.

As explained with reference to FIG. 2, cam 10, which is associated with the repeated heading is fixedly connected with the extension cams 11a and 11b, and with cam 13 and mounted on shaft 9 for simultaneous rotation. Cams 11a, 11b 13 can be shifted in direction of the arrow C by any of the electromagnetic shifting means shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 3, 4, 5, 6, although for the sake of simplicity the same arrangement is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In any construction, one electromagnetic means is associated with one of the cams for rendering the respective cam operative or inoperative, as desired.

In the arrangement as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 the armatures 56, 57, 128 of the electromagnetic means 43, 44, 45 move different distances so that the shifting bar 58 is displaced different distances and causes sleeve 64 to turn through different angles resulting in shifting of the cam group 11a, 11b, 13 through different axial distances due to the action of the helical slot 65 on the slide pin 67 of connecting member 66 which engages an annular flange on hub member 14a.

After the main switch is actuated, the operator places a copy sheet 31a in the feeding means of the machine so that the clearing marking 124 is sensed by the beam of light emitted by a source of light 122, as best seen in FIG. 10. The marking 124 reflects the light to a different extent than the surface of the copy sheet, so that photocell F4 is energized and produces an impulse which passes through an amplifier V4 to an electromagnet or relay R4 by which a clearing switch 127 is opened.

During the preceding printing operations some of the electromagnetic means were energized, and since clearing switch 127 is connected in series with electromagnetic means 43, 44, 45, and also with electromagnetic means 46, 47, 48 shown in FIG. 2, but not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and 10 for the sake of simplicity, the electromagnetic means are all de-energized, and the apparatus is ready for the new printing operation. Another source of light 121 emits a beam which falls on the copy sheet rearwardly of the leading edge. Source 121 cooperates with three photocells F1, F2, F3 which are respectively connected to three amplifiers V1, V2, V3 which are connected in series with electromagnetic means 43, 44, 45. A corresponding sensing arrangement is provided for the other electromagnetic means.

As explained with reference to FIG. 11, only one marking 123 was provided on copy sheet 31a, and this marking is sensed and the light reflected thereby falls into photocell Fl, resulting in energization of electromagnetic means 43. Electromagnetic means 43 operates the shifting means including shifting bar 58 so that all three cams 11a, 11b, 13 are shifted one step in axial direction as indicated by arrow C so that only cam 11a is placed in the region of cam follower roller 24, resulting in a rocking movement of cam follower means 20 when cam follower roller 24 engages the effective cam portion of cam 11a. Such rocking movement is transmitted through shaft 22, and the operating means 26 to 30 to the counter pressure roller 8 so that the same is moved to the printing position 1% at the moment in which the additional line of the heading represented by cam 11a passes the printing line.

When the heading is printed under control of cam 10, and the additional line under control of cam 11a, cam follower 24 is located opposite a lower portion of both cams, and spring 68 returns counter pressure roller 8 to its normal inoperative position so that undesired sections of the printing form may pass through the printing line without producing an imprint. If one of the cams 15a, 15b, 15c is rendered operative in the same manner as described with reference to cams 11a and 11b, the corresponding sections of the text of the printing form are also printed, and will appear on the copy sheet adjacent the heading, since the copy sheet is not transported by the counter pressure roller is spaced from the printing roller.

When a new copy sheet, for example copy sheet 3112 is supplied to the feeding means, the clearing marking 124 is sensed, and clearing switch 127 opens to de-energize the previously energized electromagnetic means 43. Spring 55 returns the shifting bar 58 to the normal initial position, whereby the cam group 11a, 11b, 13 is shifted in direction of the arrow D in FIG. 8 to the position illustrated in solid lines in which the cams are inoperative. Copy sheet 31b has two markings 123, and which are sensed by photocells F1 and F2 so that both electromagnetic means 43 and 44 are energized, and cause the displacement of shifting bar 58 for twice the distance than before, resulting in displacement of the cams to a position in which both extension cams 11a and 111) are located under the counter pressure roller 24 so that the length of the heading is increased by two additional lines.

After the printing roller has performed a single revolution, and respective copy sheet 3111 has been printed at the desired places, for example imprinted with the extended heading and three text lines, the printed copy sheet is ejected, and a new copy sheet 31c supplied by the operator to the feeding means. The clearing marking 124 is sensed first, and causes opening of clearing switch 127 so that electromagnetic means 43 and 44 are de-energized. Thereupon, marking 126 is sensed, for example by a photocell F3 which energizes electromagnetic means 45 through amplifier V3 whereby the cam group is shifted so far that cam 13 is located under cam follower 24, and since cam 13 has a long circumferential effective cam portion, the entire text of the printing form is continuously printed on copy sheets 310 when the printing roller performs the following single revolution after which it is disconnected from the drive motor by a one revolution clutch in a conventional manner.

The printing machine described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11 operates automatically and requires only marking of the copy sheet for an automatic selection of desired text sections. Errors which may occur when selector switches are manually operated, are avoided in this manner, the printing operations can be carried out much faster, and a greater number of copies can be produced by one operator. Nevertheless, the printing force is sup plied by cams, and a rigid lever system connecting the counter pressure roller with the cam followers of the cams, which have great advantages as compared with constructions in which the counter pressure roller is directly operated by an electromagnetic means.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of printing machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a rotary duplicator with a cam operated counter pressure roller controlled by markings on copy sheets, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended without the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; a cam block including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, and also for movement in axial direction between an in operative position, and a plurality of operative positions in which said cams, respectively, cooperate with said cam follower means, each said cam having at least one cam track portion correlated with one of said printing sections so that said cam follower means engages said cam track portion of said cam in said operative position and said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while said one printing section passes said printing line whereby said printing section is printed on a copy sheet; a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively correlated with said cams and operatively connected with said cam block for respectively moving the same to different positions thereof; and means for actuating each of said electromagnetic means separately.

2. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line, said copy sheets having marking thereon; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; a cam block including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, and also for movement in axial direction between an inoperative position and a plurality of operative positions in which cams, respectively, cooperate with said cam follower means, each said cam having at least one cam track portion correlated with one of said printing sections so that said cam follower means engages said cam track portion of said cam in said operative position and said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while said one printing section passes said printing line whereby said printing section is printed on a copy sheet; a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively correlated with said cams and operatively connected with said cam block for respectively moving the same to different positions thereof; and means for actuating each of said electromagnetic means separately and including sensing means for sensing said markings on said copy sheets and being operatively connected with said electromagnetic means for causing energization and de-energization of selected electromagnetic means in accordance with said markings.

3. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier for movement in axial direction different distances between inoperative positions, and operative positions in which said cams, respectively, cooperate with said cam follower means, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of any one of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet, a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively correlated with said cams; control means operatively connecting said cam means with each of said plurality of electromagnetic means and operable by each of said electromagnetic means separately for moving said cams between said inoperative and operative positions thereof, actuated electromagnetic means effecting by said control means movement of said cam means to different operative positions; and means for actuating said electromagnetic means.

4. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections;

feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line, said copy sheets having markings thereon; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier for movement in axial direction different distances between inoperative positions, and operative positions in which said cams, respectively, cooperate with said cam follower means, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of any one of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively correlated with said cams; control means operatively connecting said cam means with each of said plurality of electromagnetic means and operable by each of said electromagnetic means separately for moving said cams between said inoperative and operative positions thereof, actuated electromagnetic means effecting by said control means movement of said cam means to different operative positions; and means for actuating said electromagnetic means and including sensing means for sensing said markings on said copy sheets and being operatively connected with said electromagnetic means for causing energization and de-energization of selected electromagnetic means in accordance with said markings.

5. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier for movement in axial direction different distances between inoperative positions, and operative positions in which said cams, respectively, cooperate with said cam follower means, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; a plur-arity of electromagnetic means respectively correlate-d with said cams control means operatively connecting said cam means with each of said plurality of electromagnetic means and operable by each of said electromagnetic means separately for moving said cams between said inoperative and operative positions thereof, actuated electromagnetic means effecting by said control means move ment of said cam means to different operative positions; and a plurality of manually operated switches respectively connected to said electromagnetic means for actuating said electromagnetic means.

6. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets .to said printing line; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier connected to each other for simultaneous translatory movement in axial direction between an inoperative position, and a plurality of axially displaced operative positions in which said cams are successively placed in the region of said cam follower means to cooperate with the same, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; control means connected to said cams for movement with the same during said translatory movement, and having a plurality of control positions in which said cams are in said operative positions, respectively; a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively correlated with said cams and operatively connected with said cam block for respectively moving the same to different positions thereof; and means for actuating each of said electromagnetic means separately.

7. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected .to said operating means for actuating the same;

a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier connected to each other for simultaneous translatory movement in axial direction different distances between an inoperative position, and a plurality of axially displaced operative positions in which said cams are successively placed in the region of said cam follower means to cooperate with the same, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; shifting means connected to said cams for movement with the same during said translatory movement and having a plurality of control positions in which said cams are in said operative positions, respectively; a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively correlated with said cams and having ar-matures connected to said shifting means for moving the same between said control positions so that selective actuation of each of said electro-magnetic means causes said shifting means to move to different control positions for moving said cams stepwise together different distances in said axial direction to said operative positions; and means for selectively actuating said electromagnetic means.

8. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line, said copy sheets having markings thereon; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier connected to each other for simultaneous translatory movement in axial direction different distances between an inoperative position, and a plurality of axially displaced operative positions in which said cams are successively placed in the region of said cam follower means to cooperate with the same, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions repectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; shifting means connected to said cams for movement with the same during said translatory movement and having a plurality of control positions in which said cams are in said operative positions, respectively; and a plurality of electromagnetic means responsively correlated with said cams and having armatures connected to said shifting means for moving the same between said control positions so that selective actuation of each of said electromagnetic means causes said shifting means to move to different control positions for moving said cause stepwise together different distances in said axial direction to control markings and clearing said operative positions; and means for selectively actuating said electromagnetic means and including sensing means for sensing said markings on said copy sheets and being operatively connected with said electromagnetic means for causing energization and de-energization of the same r in accordance with said markings.

9. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line, said copy sheets having control markings and clearing markings thereon; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier connected to each other for simultaneous movement in axial direction between an inoperative position, and a plurality of axially displaced operative positions in which said cams are successively placed in the region of said cam follower means to cooperate with the same, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; shifting means connected to said cams; and a plurality of electromagnetic means having armatures connected to said shifting means each of said electromagnetic means being correlated with one of said cams so that selective actuation of said electromagnetic means causes said shifting means to move said cams stepwise together between said operative positions; a clearing switch in series with said electromagnetic means; a clearing electromagnet for operating said clearing switch; and means for selectively actuating said electromagnetic means and including sensing means for sensing said control markings on said copy sheets and being operatively connected with said electromagnetic means for causing energization and de-energization of the same in accordance with said markings, said sensing means including a source of light and a plurality of photocells disposed in the region of said feeding means and respectively correlated with said electromagnetic means and electrically connected to the same so as to cause actuation of the respective electromagnetic means when sensing a corresponding control marking on a copy sheet, said sensing means including another source of light and a photocell located in the region of said feeding means for sensing said clearing markings and electrically connected with said clearing electromagnet to cause de-energization of said electromagnetic means upon feeding of a new copy sheet.

10. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said carns being mounted on said carrier connected to each other for simultaneous movement in axial direction between an inoperative position, and a plurality of axially displaced operative positions in which said cams are successively placed in the region of said cam follower means to cooperate with the same, said cams having angularly displaced cam track. portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; shifting means connected to said cams; and a plurality of electromagnetic means having armatures connected to said shifting means, said armatures being movable different distances, each of said electromagnetic means being correlated with one of said cams so that selective actuation of said electromagnetic means causes said shifting means to move said cams stepwise together different distances in axial direction between said operative positions; and means for selectively actuating said electromagnetic means,

11. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier connected to each other for simultaneous translatory movement in axial direction between an inoperative position, and a plurality of axially displaced operative positions in which said cams are successively placed in the region of said cam follower means to cooperate with the same, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; shifting means connected to said cams for movement with the same and having a plurality of control positions in which said cams are in said operative positions, respectively; a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively correlated with said cams and having armatures movable the same distance, each electromagnetic means being connected to said shifting means for moving the same from any one of said control positions to another control position so that actuation of said electromagnetic means causes said shifting means to move said cams stepwise together between said operative positions for axial distances determined by the number of simultaneously actuated electromagnetic means; and means for selectively actuating said electromagnetic means.

12. A printing machine as set forth in claim 10 and wherein said carrier is a shaft; and including a member mounted on said shaft for axial movement and non-rotatably, said member rigidly connecting said cams, and having a portion formed with a circumferential groove; and wherein said shifting means includes a forked lever having slide members located in said groove and being mounted for pivotal movement to shift said member and said cams between said inoperative and operative positions, said electromagnetic means being connected with said lever, and a spring acting on said lever to move said cams to said inoperative position.

13. A printing machine as set forth in claim 11 and wherein said carrier is a shaft; and including a member mounted on said shaft for axial movement and non-rotatably, said member rigidly connecting said cams; and wherein said shifting means includes a lever having slide members located in said groove and a pivot shaft mounted for pivotal movement to shift said member and said cams between said inoperative and operative positions, a disk secured to said pivot shaft for angular movement, a plurality of links having ends respectively articulated to said disk, and other ends articulated to said armatures so that energization of said electromagnetic means causes angular displacement of said disk and of said lever and shifting of said cams; and a spring acting on said lever to move said cams to said inoperative position.

14. A printing machine as set forth in claim 13 wherein said links and said armatures are aligned along a line passing through the pivot axis of said pivot shaft in energized conditions of the respective electromagnetic means.

15. A printing machine as set forth in claim 13 wherein said lever has a slot, and an indicator means having a feeler port-ion located in said slot and being displaced when said lever is angularly displaced by said electromagnetic means so that said indicator means is adapted to indicate selected printing sections of said printing form.

16. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a rinting form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line, operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier connected to each other for simultaneous movement in axial direction between an inoperative position, and a plurality of axially displaced operative positions in which said cams are successively placed in the region of said cam follower means to cooperate with the same, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said rinting position while the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; shifting means connected to said cams and including a stationary shaft, a sleeve having a helical slot and mounted on said stationary shaft for turning movement, a connecting means connected to said cams and having a slide pin located in said slot so that turning of said sleeve causes axial movement of said cams on said carrier, a lever arm secured to said sleeve, and a bar pivotally connected to said lever arm; and a plurality of electromagnetic means having armatures connected to said bar for stepwise shifting the same, each of said electromagnetic means being correlated with one of said cams so that selective actuation of said electromagnetic means causes said shifting means to move said cams stepwise together between said operative positions; and means for selectively actuating said electromagnetic means.

17. A printing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller means and a pressure roller means operable between an inoperative position and a printing position forming a printing line; holding means on said printing roller means for holding on the same a printing form having circumferentially disposed printing sections; feeding means for feeding copy sheets to said printing line, said copy sheets having markings thereon; operating means for operating said roller means to assume said printing position; cam follower means connected to said operating means for actuating the same; a carrier connected to said printing roller means for synchronous rotation about an axis; cam means including a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier for rotation therewith, said cams being mounted on said carrier connected to each other for simultaneous movement in axial direction between an inoperative position, and a plurality of axially displaced operative positions in which said cams are successively placed in the region of said cam follower means to cooperate with the same, said cams having angularly displaced cam track portions respectively correlated with different printing sections so that when said cam follower means engages said cam track portions of said cams in said operative positions, said operating means places said roller means in said printing position While the correlated printing sections pass said printing line whereby said printing sections are printed on a copy sheet; shifting means connected to said cams and including a stationary shaft, a sleeve having .a helical slot and mounted on said stationary shaft for turning movement, a connecting means connected to said cams and having a slide pin located in said slot so that turning of said sleeve causes axial movement of said cams on said carrier, a lever arm secured to said sleeve, and a bar pivotally connected to said lever arm; and a plurality of electromagnetic means having armatures connected to said bar for stepwise shifting the same, said bar having notches and shoulders bounding said notches and engaged by said armatures, said armatures being movable different distances, each of said electromagnetic means being correlated with one of said cams so that selective actuation of said electromagnetic means causes said shifting means to move said cams stepwise together different distances in axial direction between said operative positions; and means for selectively actuating said electromagnetic means and including sensing means for sensing said markings on said copy sheets and being operatively connected with said electromagnetic means for causing energization and deenergization of the same in accordance with said markmgs.

18. A printing machine as set forth in claim 17 and including a movable support for said counterpressure roller means; and wherein said operating means is connected with said movable support for moving the same toward and away from said printing roller means in accordance with the movement of said cam follower means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,866,406 12/1958 Ritzerfeld et al. 101-1325 2,868,116 1/1959 Ritzerfeld et a1. 101132.5 3,077,832 2/1963 Ritzerfeld et a1. 101-1325 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PRINTING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A ROTARY PRINTING ROLLER MEANS AND A PRESSURE ROLLER MEANS OPERABLE BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND A PRINTING POSITION FORMING A PRINTING LINE; HOLDING MEANS ON SAID PRINTING ROLLER MEANS FOR HOLDING ON THE SAME A PRINTING FORM HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED PRINTING SECTIONS; FEEDING MEANS FOR FEEDING COPY SHEETS TO SAID PRINTING LINE; OPERATING MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID ROLLER MEANS TO ASSUME SAID PRINTING POSITION; CAM FOLLOWER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID OPERATING MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE SAME A CARRIER CONNECTED TO SAID PRINTING ROLLER MEANS FOR SYNCHRONOUS ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS; A CAM BLOCK INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CAMS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIER FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, AND ALSO FOR MOVEMENT IN AXIAL DIRECTION BETWEEN AN IN OPERATIVE POSITION, AND A PLURALITY OF OPERATIVE POSITIONS IN WHICH SAID CAMS, RESPECTIVELY, COOPERATE WITH SAID CAM FOLLOWER MEANS, EACH SAID CAM HAVING AT LEAST ONE CAM TRACK PORSTION CORRELATED WITH ONE OF SAID PRINTING SECTIONS SO THAT SAID CAM FOLLOWER MEANS ENGAGES SAID CAM TRACK PORTION OF SAID CAM IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION AND SAID OPERATING MEANS PLACES SAID ROLLER MEANS IN SAID PRINTING POSITION WHILE SAID ONE PRINTING SECTION PASSES SAID PRINTING LINE WHEREBY SAID PRINTING SECTION IS PRINTED ON A COPY SHEET; A PLURALITY OF ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS RESPECTIVELY CORRELATED WITH SAID CAMS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID CAM BLOCK FOR RESPECTIVELY MOVING THE SAME TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS THEREOF; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING EACH OF SAID ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS SEPARATELY. 